Detoxification Capacity Profile
One of the chief organs responsible for cleansing the body is the liver. This organ utilises a pair of chemical pathways for breaking down and eliminating toxins that can come from food, water, air or drugs. In our hectic, industrialised world, this flow of toxins can overwhelm the liver's ability to detoxify, allowing these noxious substances to accumulate.
This test assesses the capacity of the liver to cope with all of these toxins.
Who should use the detoxification capacity test?
Some symptoms which may suggest the need to test detoxification capacity:
How does the test work? Three compounds, namely caffeine, acetaminophen (paracetamol) and acetylsalicyclic acid (asprin), are taken orally to challenge the liver's detoxification pathways and hence assess its capacity. Saliva and urine are analysed for metabolites of the three compounds to determine how well the liver can convert and clear toxins from the body.
Cost: to be confirmed